County planning department previews statewide conference, outlines IDA support

Jason Kemper, Saratoga County irector of planning and economic development, briefed the committee on the county
nnual planning and zoning conference and the county epartmentunctioning as contracted staff to the Central County IDA. "We're over 650 again," Kemper said of expected attendance at the Feb. 11 conference, which the county runs to provide the four hours of training that planning and zoning board members in New York state are required to complete.

Kemper said the county is the only county in the state that runs its own conference for planning and zoning board members; the day-long event also offers two CLE-credit courses for attorneys. He said all supervisors are invited to attend either the full day or just lunch and that conference vendors and presentations are lined up; he will circulate conference information to supervisors.

On the IDA, Kemper said the planning department provides staff support to the Central County IDA under contract and that he will provide monthly updates to supervisors if there are public hearings or other IDA items on the public agenda. The IDA, he noted, is a separate entity and is staffed by the county under a service contract.